This has happened with isolated images in my past two submissions.  I've been cropping them pretty tight with the understanding that customer don't want to pay for a lot of null space.  It's a simple thing to add some back and even compose them in accordance with the "Rule of Thirds", if that's what they really want, but it seems a bit silly to do that with images designed to be raw material cut outs for someone else.   Has anyone else been getting rejections like these lately?

I wonder if you could show us a sample image. Otherwise it would be hard to make any meaningful statement why they might have given you that reason. It's most likely not because they want you to add more white around the actual image.

I bet the reviewer was thrown by the tight crop. I say go ahead with your rule of thirds idea, and leave some space around the image. Resubmit with a note saying that you corrected the composition.

Remember that Shutterstock frames your isolated image with a pen line. So you have to take that into consideration of how it is presented.

   I would suggest that my approach is less confrontational. I don't think you want to "school" the reviewer. (even if you think they need it)

Thanks Michael, Sue, Rimglow, and Perry. 

For the most part, I'm thinking the tight crop too.  Rimglow's point about the pen-line makes a lot of sense in that regard, not something I've considered.   Thanks for that.  I'll pull the crop back a little and try again with a note.

Below an isolation that was rejected for composition but is a bit different than the others.   I'm not sure what to do with it now.  I really don't want to add more white space.  I struggle with this one because everything about it was deliberate and calculated.  It's an experiment in scale mixing miniature and normal size objects (without being too obvious) as a visual commentary on over indulgence on holiday sweets.  As you can see, aside from the intentional faint shadows the background is pure white, and there is a clear clipping path so designers can adjust move/remove, alter the perspective, change the scale, and extract any or all objects as they see fit quite easily (note the dark Gray area is the desktop BG and not part of the image).

I have another version that was done an a variegated pastel pink background that isn't isolated, but it was also rejected for composition - which to me hints at not enough copy space being the reason, but that doesn't make a lot of  sense to me on this one.  Being holiday related, I've already lost a lot of time, but am happy to take it as a learning experience instead, so I can help avoid similar rejections in the future.


EDIT:  I added the visible clipping path to the example, it of course was not on the submitted version.

I agree with the reviewer there. I have had rejections too, composition on isolations. If the object itself is not composed correctly or in a weird angle, it gets a composition rejection.

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The massive chocolate rabbit doesnt make a lot of sense on the small plate. Even if this was a normal image, with that kind of table setting, would probably get a rejection.

The massive chocolate rabbit on the small plate is the whole point of the image.  I'd used miniature items to achieve that look.  That said, your point is well taken.  Evidently I failed to properly communicate the concept in the final image.  I do appreciate the feedback.   

What is the story you try to tell? What message does a giant rabbit on a small plate convey?

Quote

The massive chocolate rabbit doesnt make a lot of sense on the small plate. Even if this was a normal image, with that kind of table setting, would probably get a rejection.

The massive chocolate rabbit on the small plate is the whole point of the image.  I'd used miniature items to achieve that look.  That said, your point is well taken.  Evidently I failed to properly communicate the concept in the final image.  I do appreciate the feedback.

Yes, I agree, the image looks "odd" like it's badly composed from different images. If you had shot that not isolated but on a table, it might have been accepted. But "floating in space" it just looks like the elements do not really match.

Good luck.

Weak concept - poor execution  - time to move on.

Thanks.  With the valuable feedback above, that is my conclusion as well.  I consider the shoot worthwhile overall, just from what I've learned here.  Far more valuable than if it were accepted, I'm sure. 


Edit:  I've +1 hearted everyone's comments here.  Thanks for the feedback!

Quote from: Muskoka Imagery on April 04, 2014, 10:26

Quote from: Ron on April 04, 2014, 10:23

I agree with the reviewer there. I have had rejections too, composition on isolations. If the object itself is not composed correctly or in a weird angle, it gets a composition rejection.

What do you suggest I change about the compositon?

Each element should be it's own image.  It doesn't make sense to me to put them all together, but the lighting looks like the biggest problem.

ditto

I appreciate the feedback.   What about the lighting do you find displeasing?

First thing that annoyed me about the lighting was the "black" knife and fork. Get some nice grey reflections there!

My advice how to make this better: Use rabbit, plate, fork and knife. Throw out the rest. Shoot from (exactly) straight above. A White plate may work better, and maybe some other background than white.

Overall I don't understand the concept. I think I get what you are trying to achieve, but I cannot find any possible uses for the image.